Overwatch has recently been delivering on long-awaited requests from its player base. Fans had been asking for Mauga to become a playable character for years, and while his addition proved controversial, Blizzard delivered. The recent Season 1 relaunch brought two more fan-requested heroes to life: Emre, a character inspired by Halo with a potentially significant role in the game’s overarching story about a powerful AI, and Jetpack Cat – a hero who’s exactly as whimsical as the name suggests. This unusual addition hints that even more surprising characters might be on the way.
I’ve always been a fan of Jetpack Cat – maybe because I love cats, or just the funny idea behind the character. With other unusual heroes like Winston and Wrecking Ball already in the game, I hoped Jetpack Cat would eventually join the Overwatch lineup. Now that she’s here, I’m thrilled with this quirky new addition! Her connection to Brigitte’s story is sweet, it’s awesome that Jennifer Hale voices her, and she’s genuinely fun to play thanks to her unique abilities. While she might be too powerful for competitive play right now, she’s definitely brought a lot of attention to the game, which is great. With Jetpack Cat proving how popular these unconventional heroes can be, I’m hoping Blizzard adds Mama Hong – a long-time fan favorite – to the roster soon.
Who is Overwatch’s Mama Hong?
Image via Blizzard
Mama Hong doesn’t have an official backstory, as she was originally designed for a canceled game called Project Titan (which later became Overwatch). However, many fans believe she could easily fit into the game’s story as part of a new Chinese gang, perhaps similar to the Hashimoto Clan. The only image of her shows an older, heavier woman with hair rollers, which makes her unique compared to other characters. While her design is quite flamboyant, that’s part of why the community loves it. Many players feel the game could use another older character like Ana, and believe Mama Hong’s more realistic body type would offer welcome representation.
The negative reaction to the changes made to Anran’s character design shows that Overwatch players prefer diverse character looks over simply having characters who fit a traditional idea of beauty.
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I’m really fascinated by this character idea, Mama Hong! Not only would her personality – a seriously judgmental mom – make for some amazing voice lines, but her proposed ability, called “Manslaughter,” is just chef’s kiss. It’s so dark for the usually bright Overwatch world, but it totally fits her as a mob boss. Apparently, she was almost added to the game years ago, but lost out to Wrecking Ball. Considering he’s been a playable hero for ages now, it makes me hopeful that Blizzard might revisit the concept and finally bring Mama Hong to life sometime in the future. I’d love to see it!
What Could Mama Hong Even Play Like in Overwatch?
Many players have playfully requested a character called Mama Hong whenever Blizzard hints at new heroes for Overwatch. Fans have even created their own designs for her, including potential outfits and powers. For example, one artist imagined her wielding a flamethrower with fireworks, while another Redditor developed a full concept with animated ability demonstrations.
If this idea for Mama Hong was embraced by Team 4, her kit would give her the following abilities:
- Mama Hong leeches some healing off of enemies healed within her proximity.
- Mama Hong wields a Cleaver that can deflect after every three swings.
- Mama Hong throws a fish bomb that can reduce the amount of damage dealt by enemies.
- Mama Hong can cancel enemy ability use for a short time by shouting at them.
- Mama Hong can mark a chosen enemy for death (like Marvel Rivals’ Daredevil) using her ult, boosting her movement and attack speed to pursue them, and if the enemy is killed she keeps a majority of her ult charge.
There are many ways to design Mama Hong as a powerful, mob boss-style character. I’ve always imagined her as someone who summons others to fight for her, similar to how Ashe uses Bob, but as a core ability rather than a special move. Players could even directly control these summoned gang members, letting Mama Hong command from the shadows. If she’s a close-combat fighter, her summons could provide ranged attacks, creating a strategic balance between offense and vulnerability. Regardless of how she’s designed, given her popularity as a meme, it would be fantastic to see Mama Hong become a playable character like Jetpack Cat.
If Mama Hong Ever Does Become a Reality, 2027 is the Earliest She Could Appear
Image via Blizzard Don’t lose hope if you’re waiting for Mama Hong to become a playable character! With the recent addition of Jetpack Cat and Hazard (which was based on an older idea), it’s still possible she’ll join the game eventually. However, it won’t be before 2027. The next five heroes planned for 2026 have been shown as shadowy outlines, and while some look interesting – like a new mech and a stylish Omnic with a cane and hat – none of them seem to be Mama Hong. As long as players continue to ask for her, there’s a good chance she’ll appear. She originally started as a fun idea inspired by a character from the movie Kung Fu Hustle, but she’s become popular on her own thanks to years of fan jokes and creative ideas.
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2026-02-16 02:04